Global Pet Foods collecting donations for animal shelters

Canada-based Global Pet Foods, Natural Balance and Wilson will be collecting donations at Global Pet Foods locations from Jan. 31 through Feb. 14, 2015 as part of the annual "Show Your Heart" campaign. All proceeds will be donated to local pet shelters and groups. Global Pet Foods will match the first dollar of every in-store donation, and donations can also be made online at www.globalpetfoods.com.

“Small donations add up and make a big difference to smaller community-based groups who can use the funds to cover expenses for veterinary care, buy food or just keep the lights on,” said Jim Walker, president of Global Pet Foods. 

New York City launches domestic violence victims with pets campaign

The Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence (OCDV) has unveiled a campaign in support of Urban Resource Institute’s (URI) People and Animals Living Safely (PALS) initiative to shelter domestic violence victims with pets.

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Throughout May, in recognition of Pet Safety Awareness Month, the campaign will canvass New York City via retail outlets and grassroots distribution, with the goal of raising awareness about the services now available to victims of abuse with pets. To support this campaign, Petland Discounts will place posters on the doors of its 70 stores in the New York area and C-Town and Bravo Supermarkets will include information in its weekly store circular across all five boroughs.
“This creative private-public partnership with the Urban Resource Institute, Petland Discounts and C-Town and Bravo Supermarkets will help connect survivors with critical domestic violence services,” said Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence Commissioner Rosemonde Pierre-Louis. “Survivors who flee an abusive home no longer need to leave their beloved pets behind. Now, the entire family can find safety and security together in a supportive domestic violence shelter.”
Studies show that as many as 48% of domestic violence victims stay in abusive situations out of fear of what would happen if they left their pets behind, and more than 70% of pet owners who enter shelter report that the abuser has threatened, injured or killed family pets. URI is the only one of NYC’s 50 domestic violence shelters that accommodates pets, filling a critical gap by addressing the unique challenges families with pets face.
“Pets are part of people’s families, and no one should have to face the impossible decision to leave a pet behind in order to flee a violent relationship,” said Nathaniel Fields, president and CEO of URI. “With this campaign, OCDV is taking a bold step in spreading the word about URIPALS so that we can help more New Yorkers escape abuse and rebuild their lives as a family unit.” 
OCDV staff and community partners will also hand out materials and information to hundreds of commuters in neighborhoods with a high incidence of domestic violence. These outreach efforts will promote the safety of families with pets, provide information about where to get help if someone is being abused including OCDV’s New York City Family Justice Centers, and encourage people to participate on social media with the hashtag #NYCendDV. 
To learn more about URIPALS and for tips on keeping the entire family safe in domestic violence situations, please visit www.urinyc.org. For help from one of OCDV’s New York City Family Justice Centers, visit www.nyc.gov/domesticviolence or call the City’s Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-621-4673 or 311. 

Cat returns to shelters increased 16% in November

Owner returns of cats to animal shelters in November increased 16% year over year, while adoption prices for cats over 1 year of age decreased by 11%, according to the PetPoint November Report. The two primary reasons for the spike in returns were owners moving and unanticipated allergic reactions.
Conversely, surrenders of cats to shelters in November decreased by 5% year over year and adoptions increased 3%. The definition of a surrender is when an owner relinquishes ownership of their pet to an animal shelter, while a return is when a pet previously adopted from an animal shelter is returned.
The November report aggregates data from nearly 873 animal welfare organizations and data on 119,266 intakes and 122,094 outcomes for dogs and cats which entered or left animal welfare organizations during the month. The aggregated data used to develop the report comes via PetPoint the most widely used animal management application in animal welfare.
For the November report, which used data from only those organizations that were using PetPoint in November 2009 and November 2010, the following can be summarized:
- Returns of cats increased by 16%.
- Adoption prices declined 11% for cats older than one year, but increased by 2% for dogs older than one year.
- Adoption prices increased for cats and dogs less than one year by 4% and 5% respectively.
- Owner surrender of cats and dogs decreased by 5%.
- Adoptions of cats increased by 3%, while adoptions of dogs remained flat for November.
- Euthanasia of cats and dogs declined by 3% and 9%, respectively.
- Seizures of cats increased by 42%; however, this was caused by events at 4 of the larger animal welfare organizations using PetPoint.
Interested organizations can subscribe to receive more detailed reports including regional and state data for a monthly fee. The full report can be seen by visiting http://www.petpoint.com/petpoint-report-12- 20-2010.asp. PetPoint reports are issued on the third Monday of each month.

San Diego Humane Society named 'Top Pet Tale' by Purina, Ralphs

Purina and Ralphs awarded the San Diego Humane Society with “Top Pet Tale” in the third-annual “Tales for the Pet Lover’s Heart” campaign.
The San Diego Humane Society received a US$53,000 donation during a presentation hosted by campaign spokesperson, Trista Sutter, from ABC’s “The Bachelorette.” Another 17 animal welfare organizations from across the US also received donations as part of the campaign, which gave away a total of US$150,000. 
To participate in the campaign, each animal welfare organization submitted a written tale and then turned it into a video. The finalists were chosen by Sutter and  production company, Blind Squirrels, based on creative content, storytelling and the pet tale’s direct connection to the "Tales for the Pet Lover’s Heart" mission. The videos can be viewed on the "Tales for the Pet Lover's Heart" website.

Seven fundraiser to help twin cities pet shelters overwhelmed by economic downturn

Pet shelters around the country are experiencing population explosions because people simply can no longer afford to take care of their animals.
To help raise awareness and ease the burden on shelters, Seven, Minneapolis’s premier dining and event destination, is hosting a fundraiser on Sunday, June 6th starting at 4pm with Pet Steps to Heaven. The event’s title sponsor, the PETFINDER.com Foundation, hopes this inaugural “Steak Out a Home for Pets” event encourages Twin Cities’ families to log on, find a perfect match, and give a sheltered pet a new home.
“This is a valuable resource and data center available to families that want to welcome a pet into their homes,” said John Laub, event promoter and Pet Steps to Heaven owner. “The economic downturn is affecting every aspect of our society, including our furry friends.”
In addition to great food and beverages, guests will mingle with local celebrities and their pets on Seven’s Skybar. Funding for “Steak Out a Home for Pets” also features silent and live auctions.
Tickets are $75 each. Table sponsorships are also available. To order tickets or for more information, go to www.7mpls.com/petfinder.php or call 612-868-8929

Seven fundraiser to help twin city pet shelters overwhelmed by economic downturn

Pet shelters around the country are experiencing population explosions because people simply can no longer afford to take care of their animals.
To help raise awareness and ease the burden on shelters, Seven, Minneapolis’s premier dining and event destination, is hosting a fundraiser on Sunday, June 6th starting at 4pm with Pet Steps to Heaven. The event’s title sponsor, the PETFINDER.com Foundation, hopes this inaugural "Steak Out a Home for Pets" event encourages Twin Cities’ families to log on, find a perfect match, and give a sheltered pet a new home.
“This is a valuable resource and data center available to families that want to welcome a pet into their homes,” said John Laub, event promoter and Pet Steps to Heaven owner. “The economic downturn is affecting every aspect of our society, including our furry friends.”
In addition to great food and beverages, guests will mingle with local celebrities and their pets on Seven’s Skybar. Funding for Steak Out a Home for Pets also features silent and live auctions.
Tickets are $75 each. Table sponsorships are also available. To order tickets or for more information, go to www.7mpls.com/petfinder.php or call 612-868-8929.